Here Are All Of Quebec's Rules For Halloween This Year

With the announcement that Halloween in Quebec is a (partial) go, all trick-or-treaters, from the children walking the streets to the people giving out candy, will need to remember a couple of rules.

Though it might seem like our lives are nothing but rules and regulations these days, making space for these new ones might not prove too difficult as they're more like extensions of existing requirements.

Though they will make this October 31 a holiday like no other — and it will definitely be a lot quieter than Halloweens in years past.

Here are the rules the government has outlined.

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What are the rules for children this Halloween?

Halloween this year is really only for the kids, namely, those who want to go trick-or-treating. 

Considering that trick-or-treating is primarily an outdoor activity, which, Premier Legault said Thursday, poses fewer risks than indoor activities, children will be able to walk around with members of their own household to collect candy.

Maintaining a two-metre distance from other people will still be mandatory at all times.

In an Instagram post, the premier further instructed that Quebecers "limit trick-or-treating to the neighbourhood surrounding the participants' home" and "do not enter" other houses.

Trick-or-treaters and the adults accompanying them need to also "wear a face cover, and avoid singing or shouting in front of other people."

"Unfortunately," Legault made clear, "we won't be able to spend Halloween with our friends.

"We have to celebrate it with the other people who live in the same household as us."

What about adults?

Adults who might have otherwise hosted celebrations with people outside of their household will have to give up those festivities this year, according to provincial guidelines.

"I want to be very clear, for the adults, there will be no Halloween parties," the premier said.

"In 2020, it's only for the children who go door to door."

Those handing out candy will also have to figure out a way to do so without coming within two metres of any costumed visitors.

Legault recommended setting up a sort of candy station outside with individually-wrapped bags and sitting two-metres away to greet trick-or-treaters. 

"It's not ideal, but the kids will be able to dress up," he concluded.

Could Halloween or trick-or-treating still be cancelled?

While, at a provincial level, Legault and his colleagues in public health didn't mention anything about potentially further restricting Halloween or cancelling trick-or-treating at a later date, at least one municipality has already acted to do so.

At a municipal council meeting on October 5, the mayor of Rouyn-Noranda announced that the city would not to let anyone go trick-or-treating due to the public health risk.

Instead, the city will promote a number of socially-distant activities, like a citywide decoration contest.

Though the provincial government is allowing trick-or-treating to happen, it's possible for municipalities to take additional action.

In a statement, the City of Montreal told MTL Blog that "children will be able to go trick-or-treating, in Montreal as elsewhere in Quebec, in compliance with the health rules issued by public health."